Bon Ton Mini Mart on TV

Bon Ton Mini Mart on TV

While some people still think the Bon Ton Mini Mart has closed (it almost did a couple of years ago, but was jerked back from the brink at the very last second), others have caught on that it won't be closing any time soon and are still beating a path to its doors.

One of those is a production crew from the Travel Channel, who filmed all day on May 31st, on the Bon Ton's premises. In the local newspaper, a short article about the filming appeared. I especially enjoyed one of the comments about the chicken below the article. When asked if the Bon Ton's chicken was finger lickin' good, the reply was that it was so good that you'll be licking your friend's fingers, too.

I am told that the Travel Channel piece will air in October. This is the article:

I very much remember reading about Bon Ton in one of my very early RF books, And thinking, WOW. Ever since (30+years!) I have super-spicy brined ALL my chicken at least overnight. When folks rave, I always give credit to a place I've never been, but would very much like to. Thanks for the heads up Louis.

Well, as I've said to the others, any time you want to come down this way, let me know. I was in your town two years ago doing research at the University of Minnesota, and ate at one of Duncan Hines top five favorite restaurants (in the 1930s and 1940s) in Stillwater, just outside St. Paul. The Lowell Inn is still a nice restaurant-inn.

Yesterday morning I was told that the Travel Channel piece on the Bon Ton Mini Mart will air on January 9, 2013 on "Chicken in Paradise." It's on a Wednesday. Originally it was going to air in October, but they moved the date.

Well, folks, now the Travel Channel has moved the broadcast date to February 6 at 10:00 Eastern Time. This is only about the 3rd time they've moved the date; originally it was going to be broadcast in October. It'll be on eventually.

The broadcast came and went Wednesday night. It was on "Chicken in Paradise" on the Travel Channel.

I didn't see it (I haven't watched television in years), but they told me at the restaurant that I wasn't in it--other than as one of several people in a quick scan of the restaurant. Everyone was quite pleased with the final result, both the owners and the customers.

The best line that was cut from the final broadcast came from a man who--99% of the time--only comes in to get "to go" orders; he told the interviewers about their fried chicken, "Not only will you be licking your fingers, you'll be licking your neighbors' fingers."